Self adjusting socket reducing wrench



J. G. HABER 2,938,417

SELF ADJUSTING SOCKET REDUCING WRENCH Filed Aug. 6, 1958 May 31, 1960 FLE-:L

INVENToR. Jnas'ph E H111: ET

United States Fatent 2,938,411 SELF ADJUSTING SOCKET RDUCING WRENCH Joseph G. Haber, 4 Manning Road, Thompsonvlle, Conn.

Filed Allg. 6, 195s, ser. No. 753,481

z claims. (cl. :t1-18s) This invention is concerned with an improvedv multiple socket wrench.

It is a principal object of the within invention to pro vide a multiple socket wrench having a plurality of concentric sockets nested within each other of various graduated sizes, instead of separate sockets that must be removed and connected.

Heretofore there has been an attempt to provide socket wrenches which are nested within each other and which are to be used automatically by placing the wrench over the nut'v or b'oltwhich is to be turned and which nested socket'is 4supposed to automatically operate said nut or bolt head. However, most of these attempts have failed because of various diliiculties, such as the inability to put the wrench into a small location, lack of strength in the wrench arrangement so that the wrench will break, as well as many other difficulties and faults.

It is an object of this invention to provide a socket wrench of the type wherein any desired socket may be readily put into use, all sockets of a smaller diameter being automatically retracted.

It is another object of the within invention to provide a socket wrenchwhich will lit into small places and autol` matically fit the'work without any airmative adjustment.

It is yet another object of the within invention to provide a socket wrench which has no external means for,

causing it to operate automatically, but which automatically operates when -the proper size wrench is placed in position over the work.

It is still a further obiect of the within invention to provide a self-fitting socket wrench which will not break down when a strong force or pressure is applied in turning the wrench.

It is still a further object of the within invention to provide an automatically titting socket wrench in which a lever arm of any type may be adapted for turning same.

The foregoing objects are attained by the use of a series of concentric sockets located within the mouth of the wrench, each of said sockets being separately connected within the cylinder or container housing the sockets and being in position by virtue of separate springs being connected with each separate concentric wrench. Upon application of the wrench to the bolt or nut, the wrenches with smaller diameters will be pushed upwardly against the tension in the spring, permitting only that particular wrench which is of the correct diameter and size to remain around the bolt or nut head.

For a more particular description of the invention, reference is made to the following detailed specification in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the wrench arrangement.

Figure 2 is a cross section view of Figure l taken along line 2 2.

Figure 3 is a perspective viewaof the top of the wrench assembly. v

fice

Figure 4 is an exploded view of the various components of the socket wrench assembly disassembled.

Figure 5 is a perspective'view of the lever arm.

As can be seen in the view of Figure l, the embodiment herein disclosed show-s but three concentric sockets which are indicated by the number 2 for the largest one, number 3 for themiddle one, and number 4 for the inside one. It is of course contemplated that the various numbers of the nested wrenches or sockets may be increased and that they might be more than six-sided; that is, .they could be twelve-sided 4or eight-sided, depending upon the use for which the wrench is to be put. However, for the purpose yof the embodiment and for the sake of ksimplicity, only three separate socket wrenches are disclosed in thisembodiment, and they are six-sided.

The top of the wrench assembly has a hollow, six-'sided cap 1, which fits down and over the far end of the actual The cap 1 has to be of a sulilicient4 wrench body 2a. dimension from the end of the wrench body 2a, since there has to be roomr for a lever arm which can be attachedby an Allen type socket or any other similar type socket, which is indicated by the number 6 in the drawings. The socket y6 is located at the top 5 of the cap 1.

Reference is made particularly to the view of Figures 2 and 4 which disclose in more detail the actual arrangement of the parts. The inside six-sided socket wrench 4 is connected to an elongated solid cylindrical member 10 at its end. The cylindrical member 10 in the normal position extends through a circular opening 16 in the at top 9 of the six-sided wrench 3. Circumscribing the cylindrical member 10 is a helical tension spring 11 which maintains the wrench 4 in a normal position, and which is 1ocated and locked between the top 9 and the shoulder 12 of socket 4. In order to keep the cylindrical member 10 from dropping out of the arrangement, a pin 13 passes through a lateral opening 17 in the top thereof, locking the cylindrical member 10, and accordingly the wrench 4, within the circular opening 16 in the top 9 of the socket wrench 3.

The six sided socket wrench 3 lies between the six-sided socket wrench 4 and the outside six-sided socket wrench 2. As already stated, there is an opening 16 in its top 9 whereby the cylindrical member 10 passes therethrough.

Connected to the socket wrench 3 is the hollow, elongated cylindrical member 7 which passes through the cir cular opening 18 in the flat top 15 of the socket wrench 2. Again, in order to maintain the cylindrical member 7 stationary in its normal position, a pin 14 is inserted in a lateral opening 19 in its top portion, preventing cylindrical member 7 from dropping down through the top 15 of the socket wrench 2. Circumscribing the cylindrical member 7 is a helical tension spring 8 which maintains the socket wrench 3 in its normal position, since this spring 8 is located and locked between the bottom of the top 1S and the top 9 of the wrench 3.

In operation, the user places the wrench assembly over will be out of position, with its bottom resting on the top of the nut. Once the socket 4 is out of position and since the socket 2 does not concern itself with the bolt or nut head being worked upon, the socket 3 will set into position to grip the nut. The user will then place the lever arm in the upper socket 6 in the c-ap 1 and rotate the wrench as desired.

cylindrical member/connected to the `finnernfrost'socket" and having a smaller diameter than the' kdiameter ofasaid innermost socket, a middle vsocket circumscribing the innermost socket and having a hollow cylindrical 'longitud nal member of a reduced diameter extending 'upwardly' therefrom, said middle 'socket havinga flat top with 'a reduced opening into the hollowv cylindricall member, sa'dl solid cylindrical member passing through 'said 'opening into said hollowY cylindrical member, a horizontal'opeml ing in said solid cylindrica1'member'nrthe top thereof,

a -pin inserted -in sa-i'd horizontal opening'and'being locatedA above the-reduced openingv and within the hollow-cylindrical member, said pin being longer than the diameter of the reduced opening and Athereby -preventing said' solid cylindrical member fromfdropping through said opening,

aY helical spring means circumscribing sai'd solid cylindri-` cal member betweenthetop of'saidinnermost socket 'and'y the bottom of' said-reduced opening in the top ofsai'd middle socket, an outside socket circumscribing the said middle socket, 'said outside socket having a dat top with a reduced opening therein, said hollow cylindrical member passing through said opening in the 'outside socket, a'

horizontal opening" located near the 'top of said hollow cylindrical membe'rabove said last .mentioned opening', al

pin inserted in said .last mentioned horizontal opening, said pin being longer than the diameter of the said last mentioned opening in the top of the 'outside'socketand preventing said hollow cylindrical member from dropping through said opening in the top of said outside socket, a second helical spring means circumscribing said second cylindrical member between the top of said middle socket and the bottom of said opening in said outside socket whereby, when pressureisapplied to said innermost socket, or to said middle. socken:` orto both, the rfirst cylindrical member or` 'the second' cylindrical'member, orbotht .will be forced upwardly against the tension-of4 the respective springs, forcing the. respective cylindrical members -upwardvv in -the Arespective openings.

2. A socket wrenohas'recited inclaim` l wherein a cap is fitted to the outside socket at the top thereof and means is provided in said cap for adapting it for engagement with a turning lever.

. .References Cited vin -thele'of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

